Modernisation of Indian Army Infantry

[Scrutator]

Could be the cost and the ECH is yet to be developed.

The idea of getting the soldiers better helmets was in works for a while; they could have set ECH as the standard and that would have made the likes of MKU accelerate their production capabilities and offer it to IA. Right now it appears that MKU is just around a year out to attain that production capability - from what the guy (in the news story) said, MKU would 'offer' to the army as opposed to the army actually requisitioning the same.

Cost might have played a factor; but in absolute terms cost could have been disregarded. IA placed the order of 1,58,279 helmets for Rs.170 crores. Even if ECH helmets cost an additional Rs.50-Rs.100 crores, it's essentially peanuts.

 

[abingdonboy]

@abingdonboy

Not sure why they didn't go for the ECH standard directly!! It's made of Dyneema; most new ballistic vests, armored vehicles are now made of Dyneema!! Dyneema is much much stronger than Kevlar (that's used in ACH helmets)!

I can vouch for Dyneema with my life!! I rock/ice climb; changed all my nylon slings for Dyneema few years ago! They're extremely light and unbelievably strong!!!

One of the advantages of delaying induction of something is that one can leap frog technologies. As much as I admire the fact that the jawans are getting better helmets, I feel that they'll be obsolete as they're inducted!!!

The idea of getting the soldiers better helmets was in works for a while; they could have set ECH as the standard and that would have made the likes of MKU accelerate their production capabilities and offer it to IA. Right now it appears that MKU is just around a year out to attain that production capability - from what the guy (in the news story) said, MKU would 'offer' to the army as opposed to the army actually requisitioning the same.

Cost might have played a factor; but in absolute terms cost could have been disregarded. IA placed the order of 1,58,279 helmets for Rs.170 crores. Even if ECH helmets cost an additional Rs.50-Rs.100 crores, it's essentially peanuts.

The obvious reason is POLITICS. The GoI/MoD have made a lot of fuss about how they got in, sorted out the requirements of the soldiers and provided it to them on a fast track basis. A relatively insignifcant (in cost terms) helmet and plate carrier deal has been touted by many in the Govt and their surrogates to gain poltical capital- it is all about optics, they would prefer a less than optimal product now than an improved version maybe sometime in the future.

I suspect the ECH will be ordered in the near future (when it is ready) but there will be no fanfare for that, it will slip quietly into service.

 

[Trinetra]

IA is getting Modern helmet from MKU.. number is 1.5 lakhs..

 

[Superdefender]

IA is getting Modern helmet from MKU.. number is 1.5 lakhs..

Watched this full special show yesterday in Zee News. The commando helmet was awesome.

 

[Trinetra]

Watched this full special show yesterday in Zee News. The commando helmet was awesome.

They are working on a new kind of materiel helmet.. i guess IA is going to get that.. that helmet is in development stage.. A late start but a good start..

 

[Bornubus]

Pika

Para in Ancient camo

And Bye bye Patka completely replaced by CH

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Video of the encounter.

Good riddance..the patka!

 

[Bornubus]

6 - 8 "civilian" dead and mortally wounded too, they tried to disrupt the operation to help the terrorists escape the cordon.

 

[Adioz]

If only the commanders get helmets with side rails and extra accessories, it will make them vulnerable to snipers, would it not? The purpose of using the modified salute in the field will be defeated. The different silhouette of the helmet for commander will give away his identity. Can't they all get similar helmets?

 

[abingdonboy]

If only the commanders get helmets with side rails and extra accessories, it will make them vulnerable to snipers, would it not? The purpose of using the modified salute in the field will be defeated. The different silhouette of the helmet for commander will give away his identity. Can't they all get similar helmets?

It's almost always the case that commanders get the newest stuff first, the commanders were the first to be issued the M4 in the US Army when everyone else was using M16s.

As for sniper targets, the IA's warrior code is that officers lead from the front anyway, they will be targets no matter what!

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

The idea of getting the soldiers better helmets was in works for a while; they could have set ECH as the standard and that would have made the likes of MKU accelerate their production capabilities and offer it to IA. Right now it appears that MKU is just around a year out to attain that production capability - from what the guy (in the news story) said, MKU would 'offer' to the army as opposed to the army actually requisitioning the same.

Cost might have played a factor; but in absolute terms cost could have been disregarded. IA placed the order of 1,58,279 helmets for Rs.170 crores. Even if ECH helmets cost an additional Rs.50-Rs.100 crores, it's essentially peanuts.

A soldiers comfort or safety is not the priority of the Generals and hence 50 and 100 crore extra could be a major factor.Look at how long it took to get the BPJ and Helmet deal done.

 

[ezsasa]

A soldiers comfort or safety is not the priority of the Generals and hence 50 and 100 crore extra could be a major factor.Look at how long it took to get the BPJ and Helmet deal done.

Maybe they are waiting for field reports to come on the Ones that are already issued.

They wouldn't want INSAS type media fiasco, where it got bad rep after deployment.

 

[Adioz]

It's almost always the case that commanders get the newest stuff first, the commanders were the first to be issued the M4 in the US Army when everyone else was using M16s.

As for sniper targets, the IA's warrior code is that officers lead from the front anyway, they will be targets no matter what!

There is a difference between leading form the front and being foolhardy:-
Our officers know that difference.
Snipers are no joke mate. There are specific instructions to not salute in the field. This is to ensure that a team leader is not made to be a target.

A soldiers comfort or safety is not the priority of the Generals and hence 50 and 100 crore extra could be a major factor.Look at how long it took to get the BPJ and Helmet deal done.

IMHO, morale and attrition are prime concerns in the mind of any commander.

 

[Horushmar.]

It's good that the new helmets are getting out.....though I still think jawans look best with the patka.
The little thing just oozes an IA look.

 

[Bornubus]

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[abingdonboy]

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They even all have different cloth covers on their helmets!

It's very unproffesional really, these guys are the best of the best and should act like it.

 

[ezsasa]

Combat helmet orders are 1.5 Lakh and RFI for 7.62 NATO rifle is 1.8 Lakh.
May be the strength of combat troops in Northern command is between these two numbers.

 

[Bornubus]

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How about the earlier Patka ?


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[Kunal Biswas]

Those new helmets are indeed give all around protection but again they do not provide much compare to already existing tin-buckets, Patka was made for counter insurgency ..

These very first batches will go to SF for evaluation, Then only rest will get the same gear ..

 

[Immanuel]

They even all have different cloth covers on their helmets!

It's very unproffesional really, these guys are the best of the best and should act like it.

The day the entire force of a particular unit wears the same uniform when in active ops is the day we attain a new level of force maturity. It is no wonder that jihadi pigs can wear anything that looks like a regular uniform and they can virtually blend in.

Here alone, one can see how members of the same unit have different outfits